Take-down apparatus for glass cylinders.



No. 890,317. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908.

P. L. 0. WADSWORTH.

TAKE-DOWN APPARATUS FOR. GLASS CYLINDERS.

APPLICATION IiLED MAY 10, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 890,317. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908. P. L. O. WADSWORTH.

TAKE-DOWN APPARATUS FOR GLASS CYLINDERS.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 10, 1906.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR I is a similar view of a UNITED STATES PATENT orrroa.

FRANK L. O. WADS\ VORTH, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WINDOW GLASS MACEINE COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Tammownnrrsanrus FOR GLASS crpn'mnras.

I '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. (ADS- won'rrr, of Pittsburg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and use fulTake-Down Apparatus for Glass Cylinders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accom anying drawings, forming part of this spec ication, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of takedlown apparatus embodying my invention; Fig 2 ortion of the same showing one method of owering the cylinder on the hoist or other support; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the track and carriage; Fig. 4 is a detail View showing one end of the detachable connection between the hoisting cage .and the taking-down carriage; and Fig. 5 is a detail view of a brake-device.

My invention relates to the taking-down of glass cylinders which are drawn upwardly from a bath, the object of the invention being to provide an effective apparatus by means of which the c linder may be rapidly and efliciently hand ed with a minimum of danger of breakage and without the use of skilled labor.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this kind which may be operated without danger to the workmen Who handle it.

The apparatus embodying my invention provides means by which the cylinder may be engaged in vertical position, and by sidewise movement is swung into position to be lowered upon a suitable horse or support.

The invention also consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts all substantially as hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

in the drawings, 2 designates the usual drawing structure, and 3 the hoisting cage which supports the blow-pipe andbait, indicated at 4, by means of which the cylinder is drawn upwardly from the bath.

5 is an inclined track composed of two parallel members which are connected at .their upper ends to the drawing structure 2 at the points (5,.and whose lower ends are.

connected to a movable member on the Patented June 9, 1908.

1906. Serial No. 818,050.

after described. The glass cylinder A is drawn upwardly between the upper portions of these track members in the drawing operation, and is lowered between them in the manner hereinafter described.

7 designates the takin -down carriage whieh is arranged to travel on the track 5 and which consists, in the form shown, oi a quadrilateral frame provided with wheels 8 which run upon the track members 5. y

9 is a counterbalance connected to the earriage 7 for the purpose of assisting the drawing frame in u along the track, the counterweight, however, not being sulliciently heavy to fully balance the carriage, it bein desirable that the earriage shall have suiiicient gravity action to assist its downward movement on the track. Connecting the upper end of the carria e 7 with the hoisting cage 3 is a link 10 which preferably consists of a light tubular memberasindicated. Either one or more of those links may be employed as desired. The connection between the upper end of the link or links 10 and the hoisting cage 3 is a detachable one which'may conveniently be of the form shown in detail in Fig. 4, in which the upper end of the link is formed with a slot ll open .at one end'and engaging a pin 12 of the hoisting carriage, At the upper end of each link there also journaled a small Wheel 13 which is adapted to one of the track meme bers 5 for the purpose which will presently appear. I

14 designates the cylinder grips. These gri s may be of any suitable form, being carrie by the frame 15 which is suspended by a link connection 16 from a transverse shaft or support 17 which is carried by the free end portions of the horimntal arms or levers 18 which are secured oil a transverse shaft 19 journalcd in the carriage 7 near its lower end. The shaft 19 has a depending arm 20 one end oi which carries a detachable weight 2]. Depending from the longitudinal members of the frame oi the carriage 7 are two sectors 22, the teeth of which are engaged by pawls 23 on a cross shai't 24 carried by the lever arms 18 and actuated by a hand lever 25 through the bell crank and connections 26, as shown in Fig. 1.

posed between a disk 28 on the transverse lling the carriage upwardly ward support .17 and a smaller disk .29 on the pin 30 which forms the connection between the grip frame 15 and the suspension link 16, the purpose of this brake being to prevent undue swinging movement of the cyhnder in case it shou d become detachedfrom the blow pipe in the operation of lowering, as sometimes occurs.

The track member 5 may consist of rigid bars or rails of any suitable character pivotally connected at their upper ends to the drawing structure 2, and so connected at their lower ends that their points of support may be raised or lowered as before indicated. I prefer, however, that they shall be of flexible character, so that not only may their points of sup ort be changed, but that they may be flexed or bent in a manner to facilitate the lowering of the cylinder onto the horse or other support in the manner-to be described. Various means may be provided for shifting the point ofsupport of" these track members. In the drawing, 1 have shown them as connected to levers 31 which are secured to a connecting shaft 32 mounted in sup orts 33. The levers 31 are. provided with t e counterweights 34, the levers being held in osition to maintain the tension of the trac members when loaded, by means of a brace 35 which is connected to a lever arm 36 depending from the shaft 32. The connection of, the track members 5 to the lever arms 31 is preferably made by means of turn-buckles 37 which provide convenient means for ad'usting' their tension.

glass cylinder having been drawn upy from 'a bath in the usual manner 111 the position shown in full lines in Fi 1, the

the operation of lowering such cylint er is as follows. The grips 1 t are engaged with the cylinder as indicated in Fig. 1, and the hoisting cage is then lowered on its guides, thereby lowering the cylinder A, and through the link connections 10 moving the carriage 7 downwardly on the track 5, this movement of the carriage causing the cylinder to be gradually swung until it reaches the dotted position X,- in Fi 1. When this position is reached, the whee s 13 at the upper ends of the. links 10 are in engagement with the up )er ends of the tracks 5, which prevents l'urtinu' downward movement of the links, and the continued descent of the cage 3 cll'ects its disconnection from these links, the pins 12 readily disengaging themselves from the slots 11 before described. Further descent oi the hoisting cage causes the blow pipe connection to move from the point .1: to the point 1 and the cylinder now assumes the dotted position Y. WVhen this position is reached the grip frame 15 engages the transverse shaft or sup nut 19 of the-carriage 7 which prevents furt her downward movement ofthe. blowpipe and of the cylinder, and causes the blowpipe connection to be automatically disen-- gaged from its connection with the cage 3. The cylinder is now supported entirely by the carriage 7 which is moved on the tracks 5 to the desired position over the horse or other support onto which the cylinder is to be lowered, the descent being efl'ected by gravity. Too rapid descent is prevented by the action of the counterweight 9 and also by the operator who has hold of the lever arm 20 and walks with the carriage as t moves downwardly on the track. The lowering of the cylinder onto the horse or other upport may be elt'ected'in a number of ways, two of which are shown in the drawing.

In the method illustrated by Fig. 1, the pawls 23 are released by the operator from their engagement with the toothed sectors 22, and the levers 18 and 20 are moved into the. position shown in dotted lines. The cylinder having been thus lowered onto the horse, the operator releases the grips '14 by means of the lever 14, and these are automatically moved away from the cylinder by the action of the counterweight 21. The operator now moves the carriage upwardly on the track until it is in the dottedposit-ion X of Fig. 1, which may be easily done owing to the action of the counterweight 9. When the position X is-reached the hooks 11 of the links 10 are in positionto be engaged by the pins 12 of the drawing I cage as the latter moves upwardly in drawing a new cylinder, and the carriage is moved back to its original position at the up er portion of the tracks 5 y the ascent of t 1e cage.

In the method of lowering the cylinder shown in Fig. 2, the levers 31 are. moved into the position shown in full lines in said figure, thereby lowering the points of support of the lower ends of the tracks 5 and causing them to slack. The center of gravity of the cylinder A being substantially below the upper wheel's 8 ol' the carriage 7 causes the tracks to flex at this point and t assume the position shown, thereby permitting the cylinder to be lowered onto the hoist without movingthe levers 18. Either one of these methods of lowering may be used as may be most con-- vcnient in any particular case. The method last described and illustrated in Fig. 2 is of )articular value when the cylinder has not con drawn to its full length, since the track members 5 may llcx to such an extent as to )crmit the cylinder to belowcrcd onto the iorsc at any desired point. The method shown in Fig. 1 requires the carriage to be moved a certain distance down the track bct'ore the cylinder can bc lowered. the extent of lowering movement ell'ectcd by the levers 1h being limited. J

The zulvantagcs of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The use of flexible track members for the takingdown carriage provides a track which can be quickly and inexpensively erected and dismantied, and transferred from one point to another for temporary use.

"in the automatic disconnection oi the blowpipe connection as described.

Still another advantage consists in the fact that the takir1gdown carriage is operated without the use of imlepcndcnt motors, its movement on the track being eil'ccted, so lar anymotive power rcipiired, by the motor which operates he hoisting cage.

Another and important advantage of the invention consists in the use of liexible track members, which render the movement of the carriage much simpler and easier than is possible with a rigid track, and avoids shocks by reason of Lhe degree of elasticity which is thus provided.

Many variations may be made in the form and in the details of construction and arrai'igement of the various parts without deders, an inclined double track between the members oi" which the cylinder is drawn and lowered, a drawing device a carriage movable along the track, and having grippers for the cylinder, and a connection between the carriage and the drawing device; substantially as described. I

In a take-dowi'r device for glass cylinders. an inclined track, a drawing device a carriage movable on the track and having grips for the cylinder, a connection between the carriage and the drawing device, and means for automatically disengaging such mmncii-tion; substantially as described.

4. in a take-down device for glass cylinan inclined track, a drawing device a dc! carriage movable on the track and having grips for the cylinder, a connection between the carriage and the drawing device, and

means i'or automatically--engaging and dis engaging such connection at redetermined poi t'" in the movementcf e cage; substantially as described.

5. In a take-down device for glass cylinders, a drawing device supporting a blowpipe connection or bait, a take-down device having grips for the cylinder, and means for checking the movement of the cylinder relative to the taking-down device to thereby eli'ect the disconnection of the blow-pipe connection or bait from the drawing device at a predetermined point in its downward movement; substantially described.

6. In a take-down device for glass cylinders a drawing device, an inclined track, a take-dovm device movable on the track, and

means for changing the point of support of one end of said track; substantially as described.

7. In a take-down device for glass cylinders a drawing device, an inclined track, a take-down device movable on said track, and means for changing the point of support of one end of the track and thereby changing the inclination of said track; substantially as described.

S. In a take-down device for glass cylinders a drawing device, an inclined track, a take-down carriage movable on the track, and means for raising and lowering the point of support of the lower end of the track; substantially as described.

9. In a-take-down device for glass cylinders a drawing device, an inclined track adjacent to the drawing device composed of flexible members held under. tension; sub

stantially as described.

10. In a take-down device for glass o' flinders a drawing device, 'an'inchned rack ad acent to the drawing device com osed of flexible members under tension, an means i for changing the point of support of the said members at one end; substantially as described.

' 11. In a take-down device for glass cylinders a'drawing device, an inclined track adjacent to the drawing device composed of one or more flexible members, and means for holding said members under tension; substantially as described.

12. In a take-down device for glass cylinders a drawin device, an inclined track adjacent to the rawing device composed of one or more fiexible members, and a lever device to which the member omnembers are connected at their lower ends; substantially as described.

1-3. [11 a take-down device for glass cylinders a dra-Wing device, an inclined track adjacent to the drawing device composed of one'or more flexible members, and a counterweighted lever device to which .the member or members are connected at their lower ends; substantially as described.

14. In a take-down device for glass cylinders a drawing device, a flexible track, means for normally holding said track under &

tension, means for releasing the tension, and means for automatically restoring the tension; substantially as described. a

15. In a take-down device for glass cylinders a drawing device, a track, a carriage movable thereon, and a rigid lever system carried by the carriage and having grips for;

the cylinder; substantially'as described.

l6. Ina take-down device for-glass cylinders a drawing device, a track, a-carriage movable on the track, a rigid lever system carried by the carriage and having grips for the cylimler, and means for changing the angular position of the lever system with respect to the carriage; substantially as described.

17. In a take-down device for glass cyl-, inders a drawing device, a track, a carriage movable on the track, a rigid lever device mounted on the carriage and having gri s for the cylimler,,means for changing t 1e angular position of the lever device with reference to the carriage, and means for holding said device in a definite position with respect to the carriage durin a portion of the movement of the latter; substantially as described. I

18. in a tal e-down device for glass cylinders a drawing device, an inclined track, a carriage movable on the track, a rigid lever device mounted on the carriage, a grip frame suspended from the lever device, and means for changing the angular position of the lever device with respect to the carriage; substantially as described.

19. In a take-down device for glass cylinders a drawing device, a track, a carriage movable along the track, and a rigid counterthe carriage, grips for the cylinder, and susi pending links connecting the grips with the lever device substantially as descril'ied.

21'. In a take-down device for glass cylinders a drawing device, an inclined track,

acarriage movable on the track, a rigid lever systen1 mounted on the carriage, grips for the cylinder suspended from the lever system, and a brake device in connection with such suspension; substantially as described.

22. In a take-down device for glass cylinders, an inclined track, a drawing device, a carriage movable on the track and links connecting the carriage with the drawing device, said links having a detachable connection with the drawing device and also ada ted to'rnove on the tracks; substantial y as described.

23. The combination with vcrtical glass drawing apparatus havinga drawing device, and-means for raising and lowering the same, of a cooperative take-down comprising a cable extending between two fixed points, and a gri ping device mounted upon and movable along said cable.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

F. I}. O. WADSWORTH.

Witnesses:

Jenn MILLER, H. M. Conwm. 

